In a city where the average hotel rate is a robust $310 (up 13% from September 2009 to September 2010), it’s a no-brainer that budget travelers (or any traveler, really) should explore the possibility of staying in one of New York’s hostels to save money. (And, yes, there are hostel opportunities in the city).

The Washington Post recently stayed over at four of the best hostels in New York — whose prices ranged from $39 (Hostelling International), $20 (New York Loft Hostel) and even as cheap as $15 (Tone on Lex) — and found that they really liked them (no bed bug stories!). The one I’m most familiar — not least of which because it’s down the street from the The Expeditioner headquarters — is the New York Loft Hostel, which, given its location in the young, hip, and travel blogging-friendly ‘hood of Williamsburg/Bushwick, Brooklyn, is probably the most popular with the traditional backpacking crowd.

I’ve also stayed in quite a few hostels in my day, but I have to say, this has got to be the only one I’ve seen that has a gourmet kitchen, complete with hostelgoers actually using it (and not just to drink in!). Another perk of hostels: just try making your own grass-fed, organic grilled cheese sandwich with gluten-free bread in the kitchen at the Waldorf Astoria at 3 in the morning and not get kicked out. Yeah, not happening.